IBAC to push for more public hearings, as Wilson changes tack on corruption definition

Victoria’s peak integrity body has welcomed the government’s promise to give it follow-the-money powers but will push to make greater use of public hearings to investigate and deter corruption.

She said the alleged conduct would need to be serious and other stringent safeguards would still apply in deciding whether to employ invasive, coercive investigative tools at IBAC’s disposal, such as telephone intercepts. She said there was no reason for Victoria to have a higher threshold than others to investigate suspected corruption.

Under the narrow definition of corrupt conduct that has restricted IBAC’s reach since its establishment in 2012, it can only investigate behaviour that constitutes a serious criminal offence.

“IBAC’s threshold is the highest threshold in the country,” Elliott told this masthead. “Conduct that can be investigated by the Commonwealth or in NSW, we can’t look at here.

“It [IBAC] should be able to investigate serious breaches of public trust or abuse of power, misuse of information that is gained in public in their public office without hitting a relevant offence that is punishable by five years’ imprisonment.

“It’s not what the Victorians expect. It’s not what is occurring around the rest of the country.”

Premier Jacinta Allan has promised to consider broadening this definition if Labor is re-elected in November. Opposition Leader Jess Wilson, having initially not supported the change, on Thursday opened the door to including a broader definition in IBAC legislation she has vowed to introduce in the first week of a Coalition government.

“An incoming Wilson Liberal and Nationals government will seriously consider any recommendation to change the definition of corruption,” Wilson told this masthead. “If so, it will be included in our December legislation to give IBAC follow-the-money powers and lower the threshold for IBAC to hold public hearings.”

IBAC was established with a dual purpose to investigate and prevent corruption across the Victorian public sector and misconduct by Victoria Police. Elliott said that as a guide, the proposed broadening of IBAC’s remit would deal with behaviour still serious enough for public officials to lose their jobs.

“This is a significant step forward, a significant step to improving integrity in Victoria and building and strengthening trust in not just IBAC, but the police and public sector,” Elliott said. “But this is now the beginning.”

Under the government’s timeline for the changes, an expert reference group including representatives from IBAC, the Victorian Ombudsman and Victoria Police